| May 1, 2007 – Harry says: My favourite book from the series is FIVE GO DOWN TO SEA. |
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Inspector Jenks says: This is a nice idea for a thread, but would you care to explain WHY you like this one the most? Thanks! |
| May 2, 2007 – Ming says: I have no "definite" favourite Famous Fives, but I do think Five On A Smuggler's Top and Five On A Hike Together are splendid. Smuggler's Top has a haunting atmosphere, and Block is a great villain -- I certainly never thought before that he WAS a villain until the light flashing night. The whole idea of draining the marshes absolutely fascinated me -- and I don't mind admitting that I imagined I was Uncle Quentin and "designed" how we could drain the marshes. Block's deafness was a bit confusing, though, and I sometimes had to think hard to work out what's happening. I also liked the way Uncle Quentin was brought into the adventure -- doesn't happen often! I'll write some more on this tomorrow (gotta dash - homework!) |
| May 4, 2007 – Mercy says: My favourite book from the Famous Five?... yes, Five Fall Into Adventure, I loved that book as a child. Jo the gypsy girl was my second favourite character, almost as good as the Five themselves. She was so "unpredictable, annoying, extraordinary yet somehow likeable ragamuffin girl" ;-) She was the center of the plot, with George hating her with all her soul, Dick defending her and giving affection, Anne mistrusting and fascinated by her, Timmy the dog loving her, and Julian being exasperated by her! |
| May 6, 2007 – Ming says: As I said before, here are the rest of my thoughts (though I am VERY late). Hike Together starts off interestingly -- we get to see some of the Five's school life, and I was amazed that George really cared about her lessons! I was surprised to see George say something like "I have to go for a Geography (?) class now" -- never thought she would care! I found the hiking trip very interesting -- and the scenes are described marvellously, I could almost feel that I was there. I don't know much about British landscape, but Hike Together gave us an insight of the landscape. Maggie and Dirty Dick were not very threatening villains (which FF baddy was?), and they don't feel quite realistic. I mean, how many people would just pose threats when children are interfering with their plans and putting them into danger? Hardly any! I would imagine them to be a bit more scary -- maybe locking the Five up without food, or keeping them under their eye at all times? Albeit the plot of Hike was a bit unbelievable, it was splendid. The whole note thing was very appealing, and I remember those "landmarks" all the time. The police is almost a replica of Goon -- can't see much difference in them! A great read. |
| May 8, 2007 – Spoorti says: My favorite EB books are all of the Secret series because in it the children go to so many exciting places and EB mentions the sceneries so beautifully that you immediately fall in love with the books. Famous Five is an exciting series too. The adventure and stories EB makes up are so interesting. Can you imagine someone owning a island? No way! But EB makes us believe it. All of EB books are really magical. I really wish I was one of the characters. |
| May 8, 2007 – Spoorti says: OOPS!!! I wrote something else, the thread was what's your favorite Famous Five book and I was so lost in the world of Enid Blyton's magic that I wrote what are my favorite Enid Blyton books! Sorry for the mistake :-). Well, as I was saying, my favorite Famous Five book is Five Go Off in a Caravan 'cause going off in a caravan is so much fun and meeting circus folk, playing with chimps and elephants in the lake, having delicious picnics are so fun, plus this was my first Enid Blyton book and after reading this 'smashing' book I fell in love with EB books. Malory Towers is a cool series too. First I hated boarding schools and thought how can kids live in schools like this? But after I read this series I was wishing I could live in a school like this. |
| May 23, 2007 – Nitya says: My favourite FF book is FIVE RUN AWAY TOGETHER because I simply love it when young people defeat people older than themselves by just talking as politely as they can. And that's EXACTLY what Julian does. And later Dick, Julian and George moo like cows, baa like sheep and hrrummph like horses, which is great and the way the Sticks and Stinker get frightened is awesome!!! |
| May 28, 2007 – Jennifer says: I like Five Run Away Together - I think it's quite exciting, sneaking out of the house to the island. It sounds like fun (I wish I had an island like George) and Five Go To Demon's Rocks - Mischief the monkey is just so sweet! Five Go To Smuggler's Top was quite good too. |
| September 3, 2007 – Priya.R says: Yes, I like Five Run Away Together! It is so exciting! I wish I was with them! They get to have their own island and live in in a super duper home-like cave! I also liked Five Go Off in a Caravan and Five on Finniston farm. But, I hated that American, Junior and his "Pop"!!!! I mostly like every book I read! |
| September 15, 2007 – subha says: My fave books in the Famous Five series are Five Go Off in a Caravan, Five On a Hike Together, and Five Go to Demon's Rocks. |
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Inspector Jenks says: Care to explain why these books exactly? |
| March 15, 2008 – george says: I simply like all the books. All are cool. But I think so I like the first book a little more than the rest. That is because in this book, EB has written mostly about George. And I am mad on George!!! |
| May 1, 2008 – Jack says: My favourite book of the Famous Five series is undoubtedly 'Five Go To Smuggler's Top because of its wonderful setting, sense of adventure, great supporting character, excellent villains, interesting characters and most of all, the adventure itself. Whoa ! What a book ! This book gets 100 % rating from me, having no mistakes that I can see. Following this excellent novel is Five Go Off In A Caravan and although this was one of my favourites, it lacks a whole realistic plot and while it boasts excellent and positively dangerous villains (which can't be found in the later books) it fails by its supporting character, Nobby, who is not as interesting as Sooty. This book deserves 96 % rating from me, nothing more, nothing less and is fourth in my Top 6 Famous Fives. Ahead of it is Five Get Into Trouble and Five Fall Into Adventure, both excellent books, sporting excellent plot, excellent villains, excellent reformed characters and finally most of all, an excellent adventure. They both deserve 99% rating from me and tied second place each in my Top 6 Famous Fives. |
| May 2, 2008 – GEORGE(Ravina) says: I like all the books very much. They are all good. But the best is first book, second book and tenth book. My favourite character is George because she is so cool and a boy. |
| October 17, 2008 – Sabrina says: Alas! I too , have a topic. I read all my Famous Five again and immensley love Five get into Trouble rather than the others I've got. I found that Five go Adventuring again was one of the lamest FF book I've go Ta- Ta (bye- bye). |
| October 17, 2008 – Alicia says: My favourite FF book is probably Five Go To Smugglers Top. The worst one in the series is probably Five on Finniston Farm. The Harries have an amazing speech pattern indeed [sarcasm]. |
| October 17, 2008 – Michelle says: My favourites definitely are Five Run Away Together and Five have a wonderful time! Five go to smuggler's top is good. The worst is Five go to Billycock Hill and Five get into a fix. I don't understand the story either of it. |
| October 25, 2008 – Tuba says: I enjoyed all the FF books but I enjoyed FIVE GO TO SMUGGLER'S TOP the most. It had the best villian and best plot. The perfect old house and one of the best supporting characters, Sooty, in the FF series [after Jo and Richard}. |
| October 25, 2008 – Fiona B says: Smuggler's Top has always been my favourite five book also, Tuba. Infact, for my birthdays my mum made me a rectangular cake, covered it in red icing, and wrote "Five go to Smuggler's Top" in the top and spine, and even forged EB's signature to make it more authentic. My best friend, Lesley, also loved that book. When she arrived at my birthday party she rushed up to the "Book" and tried to open it, exclaiming "Oh wow! I love this book". |
| October 29, 2008 – Ben Kitchen says: Five Run Away Together has always been my favourite book, because I love it when Julian confronts Mr. Stick. It's a comedy more than a book in my eyes! I just love it! And the mooing and baaing in the dungeons to scare the life out of the Stick family. Edgar's a little idiot, though, isn't he! |
| November 5, 2008 – ann han says: I like all of them. They are so interesting. |
| December 21, 2008 – Chris says: I've just re-read all of the FF books and love all of them. However, I always found Julian intolerable, rude and self-centred. I always hoped that a child of a smiliar age to him would have given him a severe beating. Loved Dick and wished he'd have challenged Julian on occasions and fought for the leadership of the group. |
| December 21, 2008 – Dara says: I like 'Five go to Demons Rocks' because Julian isn't annoying until about pg 100, and the humour at the start is so good :) Also, Five go on the hike, smugglers top are very good storylines, and also. The ones with Jo. |
| December 23, 2008 – hope189 says: My favorite one is "Five run away together". For one thing, I didn't find Julian as annoying as usual. (Perhaps due to the presence of Edgar) It was also nice to find George doing something without Julian's permission. (Shows us how brave and independent she is.)The storyline is awesome too. |
| May 1, 2009 – Josefine says: I loved Five run away together too. I'ts the most funniest book of FF. I'd like to hide in a cave with all thats stuff they got from the house (include the things Sticks comes with). Have a little house there with my friends. And the funny animal-noise they do in the dungeon. I laugh every time at that! |
| June 6, 2009 – Siddharth says: From what I've read , my favourites are Five go to Smugglers Top , Five fall into Adventure and Five on a Hike Together. Smugglers Top - Block was really a great villain though when Sooty bit him , I felt a LITTLE pity on him. Five fall into Adventure - It was really very nice, especially the part when the Five and Jo are in Red Tower's house. |
| November 11, 2009 – pussy says: I like Five go on a Hike Together a lot. It's interesting on how everyone figures the clues out and it is certainly ENID BLYTON style. I like it quite a lot. Also, I like Five Go to Smuggler's Top because I Iove the secret passageways and stuff. But I hate when Blyton talks about shipwrecking. It was fun at first, but I don't like it, that I read that a lot of times enough to make me bored. I LOVE BLYTON! |
| March 14, 2010 – Neil says: It's easy to pick the obvious choices for the best Famous five stories as most will go for 'On a Treasure Island' or 'Smuggler's Top' or 'Kirrin Island Again' However I have always had a soft spot for 'Five Get Into a Fix' This is for various reasons. A great story towards the end of the series just as it looked as if Enid was running out of steam, loved the setting in the Snowy Welsh Mountains, the Fives isolation in the hut on the hills, riding the sledges (toboggans!!) The strange and creepy (at least to me when I was nine) lights drifting into the sky. But most of all I remember Morgan calling down the caves for his dogs to come to the rescue, a scene on the page that still brings me out in goosebumps. I can see now, almost thirty years after I first read the story, the similarity with the 'Mountain of Adventure' but this is still a corker of book. |
| April 7, 2010 – Charlotte says: My favourite Famous Five book is properly Five have a wonderful time. It is very exciting and my brother thought I was mad while reading the exciting part, I was jumping up and down around the house! If you love the Famous Five and you haven' t read this one, I suggest you read it! I think that Five have plenty of fun is quite impressive as well. Also, my favourite charactar in the Famous Five is George, she seems pretty cool and brave and she's a tomboy which is what I like about her. I am also pretty keen on Jo, she's pretty similar to George, so my favourite books are, Five have a Wonderful time and Five are having plenty of fun. And my favourite characters are, George and Jo. |
| October 15, 2010 – Astha Agrawal says: I am from India. I first came across Enid Blyton's book when I was nine years old. I was in 4 std. The first series which I came across was Jack and Annie. Now I am 11 yrs old. Enid Blyton is my favourite author. I borrowed some of books from one of my relatives I got alternate series from him. I felt the best was hike one. There are so many fascinating characters. I feel that Julian has a bold character. George is boyish very much daring and Tim is really a nice dog. Anne is ok and ocassionally show her cleverness. From my side Dick has a funny type of character. |
| October 17, 2010 – Astha Agrawal says: EB is great. She has written all the books so much interesting it is difficult to choose which one is ur favourite. I like all her books, all are amazing, but my favourite books are Five on a Hike Together and Five on Kirrin Island Again. |
| October 23, 2010 – Lucinda says: Out of the Famous Five series, I have to say that Five Go To Smuggler's Top and Five Fall Into Adventure were my favourites when I was ten years old. I loved the excitement of Smuggler's top and how Block was pretending to be deaf to hear things he shouldn't have. I also like Five Fall Into Adventure because it was a bit fun to see George getting angry with Jo, though I was quite relieved to find they became friends at the end. The most dissapointing book of the FF would have to be Five Get Into a Fix : -). |
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Fatty says: I rather liked 'Fix' with all the snow! |
| November 6, 2010 – Ali Ogoi says: Hi. Stumbled upon this site accidentally. For your info I have all the Famous Five series, some duplicates of different publishers. As a kid I read them many times over. Now I have three kids on my own. Two of my girls also grew up with the Famous Five and I am now trying to get my little 9 year old boy to start reading - but he seems to have no interest in this as he prefers playing with his PSP, Gameboy and ipod. My first book was Five Go Off In A Caravan - and it is still my favourite. I also like Five Have A Wonderful Time, Five On A Hike Together and Five Get Into Trouble. My least favourite are Five Have A Mystery To Solve and Five Get Into A Fix. I still keep all the books though I have lost some of the earlier prints due to moving house etc. My wish is to get hold of the old prints. By the way I'm 50!! |
| November 7, 2010 – Ali Ogoi says: My fav In order of merits - 1. Five on a hike together 2. Five go off in a caravan 3. Five have a wonderful time 4. Five get into trouble 5. Five on kirrin island again 6. Five have plenty of fun 7. Five go to billycock hill 8. Five on a secret trail 9. Five fall into adventure 10. Five go down to sea Least fav- 1. Five get into a fix 2. Five have a mystery to solve 3. Five go to finiston farm. |
| December 5, 2010 – Sofia Aggelidou says: Hmmm. That's a difficult question. Famous Five is my favourite series,but I thing that Five Go To Smuggler's Top is my favourite book. That's because it's got all the types of adventure I like. I mean the children must hide Timmy if they want to stay to Smuggler's Top and while they're doing that they fall into an unexpected adventure! |
| August 31, 2011 – H.R.H says: I'm afraid I have to offer up three favourites simply because I can never decide between them. Five On A Hike Together. Five Go Off To Camp. Five Get Into Trouble. Ever since I was a child I loved those stories best and even to this day I still do. While I do agree with what someone above said about Maggie and Dirty Dick being somewhat inferior villains, I think Hike is still one of the best - and most original - of all the stories. The same can be said for my other two favourites. The unique locations really add a lot and I think - with the exception of some tantrums on George's part in Camp - those three stories represent a very nice balance of action for all the characters. And I think Mr Perton truly was a refreshing change from the more bumbling villains that made their way through the series. There were many great stories, but those three will always stand out for me. |
| February 4, 2012 – Paul says: In my opinion, Five On A Hike Together is my favourite book out of all of them, even though it is a very close call. As a teenager myself, I really do envy their opportunity, however circumstantial and cliche it may be, to just go off for an adventure during the middle of term time. No adults to hinder their efforts, no distractions to keep them locked indoors all day, no reason not to be out enjoying themselves. I love how EB uses just four days to create an adventure out of thin air. I have never had an adventure quite like any I have read in the Famous Five. They are of a fantastical ideal that I still yearn for, even though I have just slipped out of age to truly experience anything that she has written of. Every time I read one I get a spur of excitement wishing I was their experiencing it too. The irony is though, If any kind of adventure did happen like those nowadays, stereotypes would portray me as a nuisance rather than a hero. Anyway, back to the point. Five On A Hike really emphasises, for me at least, what can be done in four days. How adventure and excitement will always be their, but unfortunately most teenagers will sit inside on their holidays and half terms anyway. |
| April 24, 2012 – Liam Frazer says: I like Five run away together which is book no. 3. |
| April 29, 2012 – Farwa says: My favourite book is ''Five Get Into Trouble". It is so mysterious, and so exciting. I love it! |
| August 18, 2016 – Evie Hamada says: It's impossible for me to pick a favourite. Five Go to Smuggler's Top is what I'm reading now and it's amazing, I love all the secret passages and I think Block is the best villain in FF. Demon's Rocks and Go Off In a Caravan are also favourites, I love the idea of them living in caravans and Tinker is one of my favourite characters. |
| September 9, 2016 – Padré says: While "On a Hike Together" and "Smuggler's Top" are among my favourites, I also loved "Get Into Trouble" although this could be a title of practically any of the books! With the mysterious house on the hill, Owl's Dene, and all its secrets. Julian's night time exploration where he discovers the house's secrets, the wheel to open the gates, the secret room with the snoring man. The black Bentley, whose registration number is remembered by all FF fans - KMF 102. Rooky is quite a sinister villain, in contrast to Mr Perton who never loses his cool until the end when he is unexpectedly handcuffed. Hunchie was a nasty piece of work but no match for Julian! |
| December 26, 2016 – brendan fitzpatrick says: I remember one Christmas eve,I went to the library and borrowed 'Five go to Smuggler's Top' and 'Five get into Trouble'. I would rate them as two as the best Blyton books,I never got the train set I wanted,my parents were hard up but I had some great reading that holiday. |
| January 2, 2019 – Mr. Perton says: Definitely Five Get Into Trouble, where I had a strong supporting role. Very descriptive storytelling, and it builds to such a climax, especially when that Richard Kent stole a ride in my Bentley and bought down my House of Criminals. I loved Five On Kirrin Island Again simply because it was a fine, well-paced adventure set in their old stomping ground, and Five Go Down To The Sea, for sheer atmosphere, creepy happenings, and the exciting finish. |
| March 11, 2019 – Christine Mathieu says: It's very hard to list ONLY ONE favourite Blyton book. My favourites of the famous Five are definitely the ones centered around Kirrin Bay and Kirrin Island. My two favorites from the Adventure series are "Valley" (IMHO that's EB's master piece) and "Castle", but I love "Sea" as well."The Secret Island" and both "Adventurous Four" books are big and often read favourites that I didn't discover until 2008. And then there's the FFO and Dog series. I love "Tally-Ho" best followed by "Secret Room" and "Hidden House" (all three have so much atmosphere). All wonderful EB books. |
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Buster says: I agree it's very difficult to choose one favourite book, Christine. Nice to read your favourites. |
| March 23, 2019 – joanna says: Five go to Finniston Farm. I love how George barges in to Juniors room and gives him what for. |
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